Dolphy, born Rodolfo Vera Quizon (1928-2012), was a Filipino comedian, actor, director, and producer. Widely hailed as the finest example of comedy in the Philippines, his work and talent earned him the well-deserved moniker the "King of Comedy".
Born in a poor family in Manila, Dolphy's interest in the show business started when he sold food in stage theaters and vaudevilles. He later acted in vaudevilles, impressed by actors Benny Mack, Bayani Casimiro Senior, and the duo Pugo and Tugo.
Later, he got a minor role in a film named Dugo at Bayan (I Remember Bataan), starred by Fernando Poe, Jr.'s father, who later helped him gain minor roles. Dolphy also worked in radio comedies, billed with Pancho Magalona (father of rapper Francis Magalona), and Panchito Alba, who will later be his buddy in later comedies and serve as the Straight Man to Dolphy's Wise Guy. Pancho later recommended Dolphy to Doc Perez, owner of Sampaguita Pictures, and later acted in Pancho Magalona's film Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita in 1952, and later in the comedy Jack en Jill two years later, which became his breakout role on film.
Dolphy later left Sampaguita Pictures and landed the leading role on television, named Buhay Artista in 1964; Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr., president of ABS-CBN back then, convinced Dolphy to star at their comedy, which great success. Dolphy also founded his own production, RVQ Productions,note when Sampaguita Pictures folded up. His first film was a movie adaptation of Buhay Artista.
Meanwhile, he also starred in another show called John En Marsha, with Dolphy performing the role of a bumbling working class man named John with the late Nida Blanca as his more competent wife Marsha. His son Rolly Quizon acted as one of John's children, along with Maricel Soriano, Dely Atay-Atayan as Doña Delilah G. Jones, John's Obnoxious In Law, and her maid Evelyn Bontogon-Guerrero as Matunina. The comedy was an astounding success, airing from 1971 to 1990 and spawning eight spin-off movies.
After a slew of comedy films, he later returned to a reopened ABS-CBN, starring again in the comedy Home Along the Riles (Home Along the Rails), starring a poor mechanic, janitor, and widower named Kevin Cosme, the name being a play on Hollywood actor Kevin Costner It starred Nova Villa as his former lover and sister-in-law Azon, and Vandolph Quizon, one of Dolphy's sons in real life, along with Claudine Barreto, Smokey Manaloto, and Dolphy's grandson Boy-2 Quizon. Like John En Marsha, it was also a success. Dolphy also starred in ABS-CBN's Star Cinema films for comedies, with varying degrees of success.
In 2001, he starred as an elderly gay survivor of World War II, in Markova, Comfort Gay; his sons Eric and Jeffrey Quizon acted as Markova in his younger years. All of them won the Prix de la Meilleure Interpretation in Brussels, Belgium. He later commissioned a biography with entertainment writer Bibeth Orteza, named Dolphy, I Didn't Get Here All By Myself, for his 80th Birthday, detailing his struggles in the industry. He later starred with Vic Sotto in Dobol Trobol,
He last acted in 2010 in Father Jejemon, and was awarded the Order of the Golden Heart later that year by President Benigno Aquino III.
Dolphy later passed away on July 13, 2012, due to multiple organ failure, at the age of 83, widely mourned by many, including his colleagues in the industry. President Aquino declared a National Week of Mourning, and later Joseph Estrada, former Philippine president and actor and a friend of Dolphy's, bestowed 2012 People's Artist Award to him.
His legacy continues to be influential in Philippine comedy to this day, with present-day comedians Michael V, Jose Manalo, and Vic Sotto all owing influences to him. Dolphy also fathered numerous children, including the aformentioned Vandolph, Rolly, Jeffrey, and Eric, as well as singer Zia Quizon. The King of Comedy has having numerous liaisons in life, including actress Alma Moreno and singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla; he never formally married any of them and was public in their relationships.
He was friends with actor Fernando Poe Jr., who also co-starred with Dolphy in his films, usually with Dolphy as the comedic foil; as a result, Dolphy was the comedy counterpart of Fernando Poe Jr.s, and both are dubbed "The King" in their respective genres. Dolphy also supported FPJ's unsuccessful presidential bid in 2004.
Tropes that apply to his works include:
- Papa Wolf: in his films, when his family is threatened by the villains, he won't use his Non-Action Guy status as an excuse not to save his family. If he can't find any family members still in his side, Dolphy's characters would enlist the help of his neighbors.
- Bumbling Dad: His father characters John Puruntong and Kevin Cosme are this.
- Butt-Monkey: Usually this in films, when his character starts as out of luck.
- Working-Class Hero: Dolphy's characters are either poor or if now middle class, started as poor.
Partial Filmography
Television
- Buhay Artista
- Tantarangtang
- John En Marsha and sequels "Puruntong" and "John and Shirley" as John Puruntong
- Gabi Ni Dolphy
- Plaza 1899
- Home Along Da Riles (ABS-CBN) and sequel Home Along Da Airport as Kevin Cosme
- Quizon Avenue (ABS-CBN)
Film
- Jack en Jill
- Pepe and Pilar
- John En Marsha film series as John Puruntong
- Facifica Falayfay as the titular character
- ''Captain Barbell"
- Da Best in Da West and sequel Da Best and Da West 2.
- Tataynic
- Abrakadabra
- Wanted: Perfect Father
- The Quick Brown Fox a spy parody film, co-starring with small actor Weng Weng.
- "Markova:Comfort Gay''
- Dobol Trobol, co-starring with comedian and singer Vic Sotto
- Nobody, Nobody but Juan
- Father Jejemon his last film.
